293 AC – The Red Keep – Training Yard
As Robert and Lyonel finished one morning's session both breathing hard, sweat dripping down their faces Robert clapped Lyonel on the back.
Robert and Lyonel circled each other in the center of the yard, both already breathing hard, sweat running down their necks. Lyonel gripped his practice warhammer. Robert parried one of Lyonel's swings with his own hammer, metal clanging, then stepped back with a low whistle.
"Seven hells, boy," he said, wiping sweat from his brow. "You adapt really fast. If I didn't know better I'd say you were born swinging one of these."
Inside, pride roared through him watching his son wield weapons with ease, he knows Lyonel will become a great warrior and he could not be more proud.
Lyonel lowered the hammer, chest heaving, a small grin tugging at his mouth. "You're a good teacher, Father."
Robert barked a laugh. "Flattery won't save you from another set of swings."
They finished the last drill in silence only the thud of boots, the whoosh of heavy heads cutting air, and their ragged breathing. When Robert finally called a halt, both were drenched.
Robert planted his hammer head-down and leaned on the haft, still grinning.
"Stannis told me he's taking you to Dragonstone with him."
Lyonel nodded enthusiastically, wiping sweat from his eyes. "In two weeks, Father."
Robert's grin turned sly. "Make sure not to annoy him too much… at least until you get there. You don't want him throwing you overboard, right?"
Lyonel chuckled lightly. "I don't know what you mean, Father. How could I possibly annoy Uncle Stannis?"
Robert shook his head, chuckling with him. "You've got a gift for it, boy. Trust me."
Lyonel grinned, then asked, "Father… can Uncle Jaime come with me as my guard?"
Robert stared at him, raising an eyebrow. Jaime? Hmm… aren't you taking Clegane with you already?"
He sighed, watching his son's hopeful face, then shrugged.
"Sure. Go ahead son, at least they both can protect you when you annoy Stannis too much."
Lyonel grumbled something like "I never annoy Uncle Stannis…" then looked up at Robert and said, "Thank you, Father."
Robert ruffled his hair roughly. "Go on, Get cleaned up trust me you need it, you stink."
Lyonel turned to him with a smile "Look who's talking"
Robert roared with laughter and they walked away from training grounds
They walked side by side toward the gatehouse. Jaime was standing guard near the archway.
Robert called out as they approached. "Ser Jaime. You already heard Lyonel is going to Dragonstone with my brother, I presume?"
Jaime nodded slowly. "I did, Your Grace."
He turned to Lyonel, a faint smile tugging at his mouth. "It seems your persuasion finally worked, my prince."
Lyonel smiled widely. "It always works, Uncle. You should know it best."
Jaime laughed at that.
Robert added, "You'll be going with him too. Make sure he doesn't cause too much trouble for my brother and get himself thrown overboard before he even sets foot on Dragonstone."
Jaime laughed even harder and bowed. "As you wish, Your Grace."
One Month Later – Dragonstone
The black stone of Dragonstone rose from the sea.
Lyonel stepped onto the dock with Stannis, Jaime, and Sandor Clegane at his sides. The wind was cold and sharp.
Stannis turned to him, face foul.
"You nearly were thrown overboard, nephew," he said flatly. "Now follow me… quietly."
Lyonel nodded, biting back a grin, and walked with him but he heard quiet chuckles behind him and as he turned back he spotted his uncle and Clegane trying not to laugh at the fact that he nearly was thrown overboard for annoying Stannis too much with all his questions.
As hey entered the castle Selyse Florent Stannis's wife stood in the great hall with their daughter Shireen, four namedays old, hiding shyly behind her mother's skirts. The girl's face was half-hidden by greyscale scars, but her blue eyes were bright and curious.
Lyonel greeted Selyse politely "Aunt Selyse, it's good to see you" then knelt to Shireen's level and smiled softly.
"Hello there, Shireen. It's me Lyonel,you probably don't remember me since the last time we met you were only one nameday but I'm your cousin."
Shireen peeked out, curious. "Cousin?"
Lyonel nodded. "That's right. And I promise I'm not scary."
Selyse urged her daughter gently. "Go on greet your cousin."
Shireen took a few brave steps forward and awkwardly shook Lyonel's hand with her small hands.
Lyonel hugged her lightly. "Would you show me around?"
Shireen nodded enthusiastically.
They left together Shireen leading the way, chattering softly Jaime and Sandor following behind like silent shadows.
The next two weeks passed quickly.
Lyonel played with Shireen every day hide-and-seek in the corridors, storytelling in the gardens, chasing each other across the windy battlements. She laughed more than he had expected, her scarred face lighting up when he made silly faces or told her tales of knights.
He also shadowed Stannis constantly.
He followed him everywhere and kept asking questions about everything. How the fleet was organized. How ships were built. How signals were sent.
Stannis grumbled every time but he always answered patiently and thoroughly.
Then One misty morning, Lyonel slipped away to explore Dragonstone himself.
He wandered until he found a narrow cave mouth half hidden behind a fallen gargoyle.
Curiosity pulled him inside.
The air grew hotter the deeper he went and mist started to appear limiting his vision. The walls glistened with moisture.
Something crunched underfoot. Startled, Lyonel knelt, brushing aside the mist.
Old dragon eggs hatched long ago, cracked and empty lay scattered in the dark. Most were dull grey or brown, fossilized by time.
But one fragment caught his eye and his fingers closed around a fragment of blackened shell coal-black, glassy, warm to the touch but the rest of the egg was nowhere to be seen.
The moment his fingers closed around it, something inside him stirred.
A faint pressure behind his eyes.
A whisper of heat in his blood.
And then a flicker of blue light danced before his eyes:
[Quest Updated]
[You've Discovered The Clue Fragment: The Black Scale]
[Updating]
[New Clue: A shard of shell, kissed by the darkest fires. It remembers the taste of eternal night and lies were sun barely reaches. The air around it thrums with a power not of this world.]
Lyonel stared, breath caught. Before he could react, a chilling voice slithered through the mist behind him.
Before he could take three steps, a chilling voice slithered through the mist behind him.
"That is a curious thing to behold, tell me, child… do you seek to wake dragons from their long sleep? Or you simply wish to cage them?"
Lyonel spun, hand flying to Red Rain's hilt. "Who are you?" he demanded, eyes sweeping the shifting fog. "Show yourself!"
A figure materialized from the gloom, shadows clinging unnaturally to his cloak and hood.
The man's lips curled in a thin and wicked smile.
"It seems our paths are destined to cross." he took few more steps forward
"We meet again, my prince..."